F1's 2026 Pre-Season Testing: FIA's Bold Move to Revamp Start Procedure, Andrea Stella's Warning
The FIA is set to revolutionize the F1 race start procedure, addressing long-standing safety concerns. This move comes after teams expressed worries about the current sequence, which has remained largely unchanged for decades, being too rapid for the new cars. The crux of the issue lies in the removal of a small but crucial electric motor, which previously spooled the turbocharger. Now, drivers must manually rev the combustion engine to spool the turbo, a process that can take over 10 seconds, as observed during practice starts.
McLaren boss Andrea Stella warns that the current procedure could lead to dangerous, multi-car pileups, emphasizing the need for all cars to have their power units ready to go at the start. He stresses the importance of prioritizing safety over competitive interests, urging all teams and the FIA to act responsibly.
The rule change necessitates unanimous agreement from all teams or FIA enforcement based on safety grounds. Ferrari's refusal to join the movement puts the onus back on the governing body. This issue was first raised by Scuderia last year, but the FIA maintained no changes would be made.
As a result, Ferrari's turbocharger design offers a shorter spooling time but at the cost of reduced power. The problem was discussed at an F1 Commission meeting in Bahrain, leading to further evaluations of race systems and on-car management during the current test.
The trials will take place at the end of each day during the second pre-season test, which commenced in Bahrain on Wednesday night (AEDT). This test is crucial as it evaluates the new regulations, including the removal of the MGU-K, a complex electric motor that pre-spooled the turbocharger. The removal now mandates manual spooling by the combustion engine, a process that can take over 10 seconds.
The first test revealed clumsy and comical practice starts, especially for drivers starting deeper in the field. The existing procedure begins as soon as the last car pulls into its grid spot, with a green flag wave and a button press starting the lights sequence. This means cars at the front can remain idle for up to a minute, while the last car might only be stationary for a few seconds.
George Russell topped the timesheets on the first day of the second test, lapping the Bahrain circuit in 1:33.459, just 0.001 seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri. The second and final pre-season test concludes on Saturday morning (AEDT), before the season begins in Melbourne on March 8.
